Last-chance saloon for title hopes - Baxter

HAVING beaten the Top 14 champions one week, the URC champions the next, Exeter now have the reigning Premiership champions Leicester in their sights.

Curry brothers put the heat on Bristol

SALE’s England boys pulled together to help the Sharks return to winning ways and take a major step towards securing a home Premiership semi-final.

Reid finds the fire to lead Bath fightback

IT’S been a long time coming but Bath’s first away win since November brought them huge satisfaction as they retrieved a 17-0 deficit to silence a sold-out Kingsholm and win there for the first time in five years.

Quins find their feet to finish job in style

ALEX Dombrandt put his Six Nations worries behind him to show himself “a different beast” for his club as Quins eventually overwhelmed bottom club Falcons.

Saints go fourth in battle for play-offs

SAINTS kept well in the race for a playoff place with a hard earned win against a largely shadow Sarries XV that contested the issue to the last.

All Blacks have what it takes to go all way

THE decision by New Zealand to announce a new coach of the All Blacks before a fouryear cycle has ended is quite sensational. As a neutral, you feel a bit for current coach Ian Foster going into the 2023 World Cup, with Scott Robertson named already as his successor as soon as the tournament is over.

Hastings on way back after shoulder injury

ADAM Hastings is in line to return to action for Gloucester before the end of the season, four months after the Scotland outside-half had shoulder surgery.

I'd love to play for Fiji, says Hughes

NATHAN Hughes has closed the chapter on his time in England but says he is awaiting the call from the Fijian selectors to appear for his country of birth.

Varndell's glad to roll back the years

TOM Varndell has added another winner’s medal to his collection, at the ripe old age of 37.

Fitzpatrick Raises Key Question For Regions

Any Lancashire member vexed at seeing so little of their champion bowler on the domestic front will have some sympathy with those who subscribe to another superstar of similar vintage.

The prince has his eyes on the prize as usual

Brendan Gallagher delves into some of rugby’s most enduring images, their story and why they are still so impactful

Time for Exeter to ditch the warpaint

To misquote Aristotle, ‘human nature abhors a vaccuum’, and with no rugby at present, the hottest topic around seems to be the headdresses that some Exeter Chiefs supporters like to sport.

Chick: Falcons aim to start fast and not fade

NEWCASTLE back rower Callum Chick says the Falcons will be flying when their Premiership campaign kicks off against champions Harlequins on September 19.

Winning a breakdown was my greatest joy

THE FORMER BRUMBIES, BATH, LEICESTER AND EXETER FLANKER TURNED DEFENCE COACH

Ladesma and Cheika are under pressure

Having lived in Europe for 14 years, I’m now back in Argentina and have been closely following the start of the 2021 Rugby Championship.

Defibrillators are essential, every club should have one

I want to use my column this week to discuss an issue which is both incredibly important and also very close to my heart and that is the importance of every Welsh rugby club having a defibrillator.

I'm delighted for Kolbe, he deserves all the riches

IT’s absolutely staggering to see the amounts of money involved in Cheslin Kolbe’s transfer from European champions Toulouse to Toulon. It’s mind-blowing, and also brilliant news for rugby that these sums of money are batted around in the sport. I couldn’t be happier for Cheslin or any other player to command that sort of contract.

Titterrell swots up on the new boys

Adam Ellis talks to England U20s coach Andy Titterrell after his first year in the job

Wolfpack sharpen claws for bear pit

JACKSON Wray claims the Wolfpack have sharpened their claws and are “hungrier than ever” to regain their seat as England’s top dogs.

Maitland is chasing a flyer for Scotland

SEAN Maitland will leave it up to Gregor Townsend to decide when the curtain should fall on his Scotland career.

Lewies wants more of Quins factor 500

HARLEQUINS captain Stephan Lewies has urged fans to harness the Spirit of Ashton Gate when the champions kick off their title defence.

Ref Doyle available ‘for a pie and a pint'

Neil Fissler finds out what’s next for referee JP Doyle after his American adventure

Hooper shows his class in best Wallaby tradition

A BRIEF encounter with Ian Chappell long ago served as early notice to be wary of Australian Test captains. Quite why the air in Swansea turned blue during the tourists’ three-day match against Glamorgan has been lost in the mists of time other than that Chappell was not in the best of moods.

Cipriani magic can get Bath back in the title mix

It’s hard to say if Danny Cipriani is the missing piece to get Bath back on top – and whether he can change things on his own – but his job will be a lot easier if he has a formidable pack in front of him. It just makes life so much easier for the half-backs.

Pollard puts boot into the misfiring Pumas

THE Rugby Championship may be in more Covid disarray but Siya Kolisi claimed a second quick victory over Argentina tasted sweet.

I can't wait for Gareth return, but go slowly!

IT’S great news Gareth Anscombe is poised to make his long-awaited return from injury this season because he is a player the Ospreys, and to a lesser extent Wales, need desperately.

Let stars go abroad AND play for their countries

It seems to be part of rugby’s culture that the Unions like to flaunt their muscle and tell players that they can only play for their country if they are based there: England, Wales, Australia and New Zealand all do it.

The magnificent men of England's swinging 20s

Brendan Gallagher delves into some of rugby’s most enduring images, their story and why they are still so impactful

Tigers tie up gives kids route through

Paul Rees finds out more about Nottingham’s new partnership with Leicester Tigers

Lions should have put pressure on Boks' backs

What we hoped would be a successful Lions series turned into a loss that’s still hard to believe. In all three Tests the Lions showed a commitment and drive to match the Boks forwards but only then did they attempt to outplay their backs.